If any car in the Nissan lineup qualifies as a "cult" vehicle, it's the maker's four-door Maxima sedan. Mark Perry, Nissan's director of cross-carline product strategy, says the Maxima ranks as the maker's strongest loyalty product, while purely empirical evidence suggests Maxima owners do indeed speak about their cars with a reverence unique in the segment. Yet Perry also admits that the outgoing, sixth-generation Maxima had strayed from the winning formula. "It was a softer athlete," he says.

Thus the mission for the new, seventh-gen car: Reinject the DNA from the cult-building "four-door sports car" first sold for 1989. In fact, this time around Nissan raised the bar even higher, aiming to make the Maxima nothing less than "the best-performing front-drive car in the world."That's a bold statement. And it gets bolder. Nissan's handling target, the car that company engineers compared with the Maxima during development laps around the Nurburgring Nordschleife: the Porsche GT3.

What's that? A front-drive, four-door sedan attempting to play with the rear-drive sports icon that last year won our "best-handling car" competition? Is Nissan perhaps also planning to land a Maxima on Mars?For sure, a mere glance at the new Maxima confirms that Nissan has wrought dramatic changes. In an era when every model year seemingly brings "bigger, larger, fatter," Nissan has actually downsized its flagship four-door. Wheelbase shrinks 1.9 inches, length is cut by nearly four inches, and height is reduced almost half an inch. Importantly, though, track has widened 1.4 inches up front and 1.2 inches at the rear. While other cars have grown to accommodate an "expanding" audience (the Honda Accord comes to mind), the new Maxima is primed for responsiveness.

Nissan also saw a need to differentiate the Maxima visually from its smaller Altima sibling (the two cars share the same basic platform); "spend the money on design" became a program tenet. The result is a sedan that's far more lithe and artful than its homogenized predecessor, with arrow-like headlights reminiscent of those on the GT-R sports car, flexed-bicep wheel arches, and an optional dual-panel moonroof that nearly transforms the Maxima's entire lid into glass.

The restyled cockpit is nothing short of gorgeous, boasting soft-touch material across the dash, chrome accents, electroluminescent gauges, and optional Eucalyptus wood-tone accents (if you replaced the Nissan logo with an Infiniti badge, it's doubtful anyone would notice). The rear seat is available with either a 60/40 split-folding configuration or a solid bench with center pass-through.Engine output climbs significantly for 2009. Remapped for premium fuel, the ubiquitous 3.5-liter V-6 sports a new intake, reshaped pistons, and a less-restrictive exhaust, among other refinements-helping it deliver 290 horsepower (versus 255 for the 2008 model) and 261 pound-feet of torque (up 9 pound-feet). Yet estimated fuel economy actually improves, to 19/26 city/highway mpg (compared with 19/25 for the outgoing car). An electronically controlled CVT with sport and manual modes is the only transmission offering; paddle shifters are optional.Body rigidity is up 15 percent and the front-strut mounts are 100 percent stiffer than before. Other chassis enhancements include aluminum suspension links (some pieces are borrowed from the Infiniti M45); quick-ratio, twin-orifice variable power rack-and-pinion steering (as on the 350Z); a lower, six-point engine mount for reduced vibrations; and larger vented discs front and rear. Standard wheels are 18-inch alloys, while an optional Sport package includes 19-inchers; the latter can be fitted with high-performance summer tires.

This car is ugly - a poor interpertation of the 370Z/GT-R styling. Sometimes, you just can't make that type of styling work on a 4door. With each successful iteration, they make the Maxima uglier and uglier. That's surprises me from a Japanese company that makes the decent looking GT-R & sweet looking Z.

Go to Maxima.org under the 7TH Gen forum and you'll find 09 Maxima owners who have clocked 5.3 runs to 60 in their cars ON A REAL RACETRACK with a STOCK/Unmodded Maxima.People are always so quick to judge but really don't know, it would be a total waste of money to plunk down the cheeze spent on this car for a G8 or Dodge with their reliability record.

lite_reading333ny (05/28/08 04:47 AM)I agree with Grump- as the former owner of a gen 3 Maxi, Gen 4 lost me. Of course I stepped up to something better but if I was shopping in that range, Maxima is off the list. Heavy, bad on gas and always much worse than EPA ratings, and torque steer galore. To make matter worse, reliability is in the dumps. Obviously, you've never driven one of these new Maximas so you should can your lame based on someone else's assessment of the car.I have one and I get great gas mileage (33MPG on the hwy and 21 in the city) not bad for a CVT and a car that weighs 3600lbs.You're comment about torque steer is way off as well, I have an 03 Maxima and that thing is the king of torque steer, about the only way to get torque steer out of this car is to be going almost in a circle and nailing the throttle hard but then again most cars will spin out like that anyway so is that really such a bad thing?

First let me say my wife currently has a 2005 Maxima.... I saw the ads for the new 2009 and thought "that is the ulgyliest car ive just about ever seen.... the Gen 6 version still rocks"... I then went to test drive a Murano..... and saw the 09 Max in the steel.... BOY OH BOY! Those pictures, all that I have seen, do it NO Justice......Car is very very sexy, and took out both the Sport and the Luxury versions.... I could have been dreaming but the Sport actually had a better ride than the Lux... The dash on the Sport I wasnt thrilled with, as it was a carbon fiber type material...looked like crap.... but in the lux version it was wood inlays.... pretty nice... Overall handling NICE... POwer much better than the Gen 6 version..> My verdict the 2009 Maxima... oh yea...and i stopped in to see the G8 today... nice but others were right... will depreciate way to much and no sophistication in the G8....Maxima all the way

I bought an 08 Maxima in February to replace our aging 99 that had 165K trouble free miles. The '08 already has 7,500 miles and no issues at all. The 3.5SL averaged 29MPG on a recent 8hr trip to and from Florida. This is the 4th Maxima I've owned and easily the best! While the CVT isn't the sportiest tranny out there, it does deliver well on spirited STREET driving and the BEST highway driving experience I've ever had - I've worked for several European brand dealerships and driven every make. For all those Nissan haters, simply go drive the new Maxima, or a Nissan first, before you go out and bash the good name and brand.

mallo7dj is correct about the dodge and pontiac and being upside down. Its a sad reality that american makers shot themselves in the foot in the 80's and 90's. Hopefully that will turn around as American makers continue to improve on their quality. Think I am wrong, goodle image a 96 olds ciera and a 96 accord or camry and tell me what you would have bought. The ciera looks like an 82 model.

i have had 4 maximas and have an altima 3.5se now. i think nissan has acheived what it meant to, and other testers have gotten quicker accel runs for the 09 maxima (5.8 seconds). the original 4DSC was special, but now the G35 really fills the gap the old maxima used to. I agree the maxima should be tested against the TL-S, especially with its new upscale interior.any american car almost always offfers more bang for the buck but i wouldnt buy one even though theyve gotten better...

With a 29 yr, stellar history under its belt, the Maxima reigns over all "comers, takers and suitors". Ward's Automotive and the 'likes' truly knows just like the Maxima-loyals...at the end of the day, (trade-in, resale value, reliability, substance and class...it just can't be beat! Those are the facts.

Mallo7dj is right, those Dodges and Pontiacs depreciate too fast. And not everything in life is about quarter mile times or skid pad numbers. The Maxima carries sophistication and class that the G8 is just too blue collar to appreciate. Plus, the Maxima is too gig to be compared to a 3 series. They are closer to the 5 series. In which case, they do become a poor mans 535. A better comparison may be the CTS vs. this Maxima.

I agree with 2007g35xowner.BMW's aren't reliable at all. but they are good looking, i'll admit to that.I kinda like the Maxima. Better than the blocky maxima steering wheel. I'm just not into the cut away headlights.

mallo7dj, you make a great point that people hate to admit to. Gotta laugh at the BMW guy commenting on reliability, I've never seen such horrendous reliability or maintenance costs as when I had my M3. My 90 Mustang was far more reliable. A few years ago Nissan said that for its car markets, Nissan would be FWD while Infiniti would get the RWD (with obvious exceptions, a Z can't be FWD or an Infiniti). BTW, the new Max is still ugly as sin.

I laugh at best handling front wheel drive when your only pulling .85g not a good idea plus its fat. Heck I have a front driver pulling 1g+ with only a spring and shock change running all season tires. Then whats with comparing this to a porsche gt3 just to see how badly its gets beat or what.

The overall shape from the side profile is similiar to the Chevy Malibu or Toyota Avalon. I see the nose has the required bulbus shape for European pedestrian safety. Looking closely at the front view I see nice edges and ridges along the fenders. I'll reserve judgement on appearance until I can see it in person. Proportions in person make a big difference in overall appearance. My mom hated the look of the Saturn Aura based upon the photo but loved it at first sight when she saw it in person.

A BMW owner that doesnt like American cars because of reliability. That's rich.Anyway, I doubt too many Maxima shoppers will be cross shopping Chargers and G8's. The G35 on the other hand would seem to be a solid alternative. I owned a 1991 Maxima in the past and it was simply a fantastic car all around. This new one is looking better by the day although I am still not in love with the headlight treatment. Premium fuel probably not a great idea to eek out just a few more ponies.

Nissan needs to go back to their winning lineup. Sedans were Sentra, Stanza, and Maxima and each was different enough in size as to make the change up worth the extra money. Then there were the two door models of Sentra 200SX, 240SX, and the 300ZX. They're close to that lineup now but it's lacking style and the difference in model size (Altima/Maxima). To me, the Altima coupe isn't the same as the 240SX. Oh well. We'll see how things go.

as a gen3(1989) and 6(2005)owner i like the direction nissan went, but as far as the torque steer and oh that so thursty 3.5 litre engine that sips way more premium gas than advertised, im kinda dissapointed due to the fact that nissan didnt make it a rear wheel drive car. for a bit more u can have that great g35 with the same engine and more power and more everything, and for even a lil more u can have a bimmer 335 thats on top of the sports sedan seg. but on that note i do not really like american cars due to the low reliability but that g8 looks sweet for the same price as the max with better performance.

I'M WITH JAWS, FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY, YOU CAN GET A FASTER, BIGGER, BETTER HANDLING, ALMOST SAME FUEL ECONOMY, BETTER SOUNDS, IN A G8. MALLO7DJ MUST BE AN IDIOT TO THINK OTHERWISE, BUT SOMEBODY GOTS TO BE DUMB ENOUGH TO BUY THEM, RIGHT?

I was just about to say the same thing: DOA. Only 290 horsepower and it still requires premium fuel? Zzzzz. Might as well get a Pontiac G8 and blow this thing out of the water with 360 HP and still get comparable gas mileage. I'd even rather have one of the many 270 horsepower 3.5 V6's out there that take regular.

$29,000 to $32,000 starting out? Um, no way, especially when I can get a nicely loaded Charger for that price.Even with Nissan's focus on torque steer elimination, it can still have it but it is at the upper limit where most people won't be at. IDK how this will sell but I won't get one, not when the Charger and G8 are such performance bargains.

I agree with Grump- as the former owner of a gen 3 Maxi, Gen 4 lost me. Of course I stepped up to something better but if I was shopping in that range, Maxima is off the list. Heavy, bad on gas and always much worse than EPA ratings, and torque steer galore. To make matter worse, reliability is in the dumps.

DOA. As a Gen.5 Maxima owner and even with the '09 appearing to be a big improvement on the Gen.6 in the look of the interior, in today's world this car is dead. Remapped for premium?? Absolutely has to be able to be run on regular. Absolutely has to have a five or six speed Auto, or have the MT available, and is now just too damn heavy.

I own a 2009 maxima and average 25mpg city driving. I find I have to be peeling out from every stop light or driving in heavy, heavy traffic to get numbers as bad as the EPA suggests. The G8 is a cool car but it doesn't turn into corners as well a the maxima. Of course the rwd on the g8 helps power it through turns but it still doesn't hold the road on a turn as well as the maxima, nor is it capable of getting fuel economy as good as the max. The g8 is a different type of car. I got the max because it has an excellent blend of power, handling and fuel economy. And I like how it looks. I wanted fwd so id feel safer letting my girlfriend or anyone else drive it. G8 and maxima are not really directly comparable as they are too different. G8 is a heavy v8 rwd. Max is a much lighter v6 fwd. Acura TL is a better comparison. Or a dodge charger if you want to compare to American cars. And the max is faster than the v6 charger. 245 wide tires on the max really stick you to the road especially once you put on performance tires.

It's easy to look at some numbers and based on that say a car sucks or look at EPA fuel numbers and say that thing guzzles gas. But the EPA numbers are often wrong I have found. You really have to do your research and most importantly. Test drive. If you think people are dumb to buy a maxima over a g8 than frankly, you are kind of dumb yourself. Personally I like both those cars.

2009 mazda 6 v6 gets worse fuel economy. Has less power. And is slower. It also has a different feel. The maxima has a more sporty, weighted feel. And when I test drove the 6 I found it didn't handle as well as the maxima. So I don't know where you are getting your facts. But they are flat out false.

Max has wider tires and has a look that is less cookie cutter and stands out more than most sedans. Although the new 6 does have a nice sleek look to it. The maxima was designed with the driver in mind more than the 6. Both good cars, but comparing the v6 mazda 6 to the maxima. The maxima is the faster better handling and sportier car. And I would take the max over the 6 easily. Now if you are looking at the I4 mazda 6 which gets great gas mileage than it has definite perks over the max. The V6 version of the mazda 6 though, is not a car I can reccommend. The max beats it in almost every way.